In the rematch of last matchday’s duel, Indonesian side PSM Makassar went one better over Kaya-Iloilo Football Club in the 2019 AFC Cup group stage.
Kaya’s hopes of advancing towards the zonal semi-finals suffered a big blow when succumbed to a 1-2 defeat at the hands of PSM Makassar, Wednesday afternoon, at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.
It was the first loss of Noel Marcaida’s men in the tournament and they are now at 2nd place in Group H with 5 points as PSM leapfrog them at the top spot with 8 points.
The LBC-backed squad had a mountain to climb in the contest after it conceded twice in the span of four minutes. PSM’s Rizky Pellu was unmarked and he headed his teammate Wiljan Pluim’s cross past Kaya goalie Louie Casas for the opener at the 20th minute.
Four minutes after the first goal, forward Eero Markannen outmuscled a Kaya defender to double the away side’s advantage in the contest.
Kaya tried to set things right in the second half but it just wasn’t the 2018 Copa Paulino Alcantara Cup winners’ day. Even a red card for PSM defender Abdul Rahman for a foul on Jordan Mintah eight minutes into the period was not enough for the home team to get a lifeline.
Mintah took the free kick but his attempt was foiled by PSM goalie Rivky Mokodompit. Moments after, Mokodompit performed another fine stop against Darryl Roberts to keep the score as it was.
Kaya defender Jalsor Soriano then followed Rahman’s lead and exited the game early after he needlessly kicked Marc Klok with just two minutes left in regular time. With the game all but lost, Kaya earned a penalty after a foul in the PSM box. Skipper Jovin Bedic then converted it but his third goal in the tournament was nothing more but a mere consolation.
“We dominated and controlled the second half, but we had trouble breaking their defensive line. That was our big problem. All throughout that second half we failed to identify the space in between. It took us so long to get that first goal. If that attempt from Darryl Roberts had gone in, I think we would’ve gotten a second goal,” said Marcaida. “In the end there were actions that were not advantageous to us, and we lost more time to chase the game. We need to learn to control our emotions.”
Kaya hopes to bounce back against Laos’ Lao Toyota FC on April 30, 2019, 3:00 PM at the Panaad Stadium.
Kaya XI: Casas (GK), Felongco, Soriano, Matas, Omura, Tacagni, Osei, Angeles, Bedic ©, Roberts, Mintah.
PSM Makassar XI: Mokodompit (GK), Rahman, Hidayat, Munhar, Wahyudi, Pluim ©, Arfan, Klok, Rachmat, Pellu, Markkanen.
